Trentino-Alto Adige Racines: three valleys for a unique experience in South Tyrol
In beautiful South Tyrol, Racines (Ratschings) is a municipality comprising the picturesque valleys of Racines, Ridanna and Val Giovo. In this landscape, surrounded by glaciers and mountains, unspoiled nature, and breathtaking scenery, many exciting experiences and activities for all seasons await you. Ratschings is ideal for sportsmen seeking adve...
This Italian Town Really, Really Likes Ocarinas
For thousands of years, humans have played music using some version of the ocarina, a rounded wind instrument that produces a flute-like sound. In China, ocarina-like instruments date back to 5,000 BC, and the Maya and the Aztecs used them in religious ceremonies. But the modern ocarina, a sweet potato–shaped instrument with 10 to 12 holes, was inv...
‘Eat and flee’ tourists are ruining this ‘fragile’ popular vacation spot, officials say — here’s their latest attempt at a crackdown
The City of Canals is fed up with tourists who treat Venice like a pit stop — and now it’s slapping them with another toll for treating the floating city like a food court. Starting Friday, day-trippers who “eat and flee” — a phrase officials use for tourists who pack their lunch, snap a selfie and ditch without spending a dime — will once again ha...
Livorno and the sea, a thousand-year history that begins with the Etruscans
If there is a place where the sea is not just a geographic boundary, but a soul that has shaped its history and brings it to life, that place is the province of Livorno. Here, the sea is not just an element of the landscape, but an essential component of daily life, a protagonist of history and an engine of transformation that, over the centuries,...
Pasquetta: Italy's Easter monday
"Pasquetta" is the name used in Italy for the Monday after Easter Sunday: it's a public holiday, like in many other parts of the world, though it has different names and traditions in various places. It is also called “Lunedì dell’Angelo” (Angel's Monday) because of the Gospel story where an angel—two, according to the Gospel writers Luke and John—...
Natale di Roma: happy birthday to the Eternal city
The origins of the city of Rome are clearly divided between history and legend. According to legend, the city was founded by Rome’s first king, Romulus, after killing his twin brother Remus. History, however, tells us that Rome was born from the gradual unification of villages scattered across the various hills, such as the Palatine, Capitoline, an...
Gardaland celebrates 50 years with new attractions and green initiatives
Gardaland, the most famous amusement park in Italy, located in Peschiera del Garda in the province of Verona, is celebrating an important milestone this year: its 50th anniversary. The original idea for an amusement park on the shores of Lake Garda was conceived in the early 1970s by Livio Furini, a musician and entrepreneur from Verona who was ins...
Parmigiano Reggiano Breaks Revenue Record in 2024
Parmigiano Reggiano PDO recorded a historic €3.2bn in consumer turnover in 2024, up 4.9% from €3.05bn in 2023, despite geopolitical uncertainty and rising concerns over global trade restrictions. Volume sales rose 9.2% year-on-year, driven by solid growth in both domestic and international markets. Sales in Italy increased by 5.2%, while exports su...
Mamma: an Italian music classic
The song Mamma has a special place in Italian music history, both because of its universal theme, maternal love, and the many famous artists to whom it is associated. The song was composed in 1940 by Cesare Andrea Bixio, with lyrics by Bixio Cherubini, a known artistic duo. Born in Naples on October 11, 1896, Cesare Andrea was a prolific Italian co...
Rome’s GRAB: A new way to experience the Eternal City by bicycle
Rome is creating a new 50-km long ring road for cyclists and walkers as part of an ambitious project known as the Grande Raccordo Anulare delle Biciclette, or GRAB. The new facilities for walkers and cyclists are in response to growing demand for sustainable mobility and outdoor spaces, offering a slow, immersive way to discover Rome. The cycling a...
Religious cities in Italy: a guide to the holy sites
Italy has for millennia been a central stage for the religious development and spirituality of the Christian West. From majestic papal basilicas to serene mountain sanctuaries, the country offers an extraordinary variety of experiences that promise a deep connection with the past, art and faith. Whether you are a devout pilgrim, a history buff or s...
European tourism in the United States plunges, the only exception is the Italians
It’s a trend that could prove costly for the US: the decline in foreign tourism, a key contributor to the US economy since the end of COVID-related restrictions triggered a recovery in international travel. This trend affects Italy with significantly lower figures: last month, just over 80,000 Italians departed for the "States," a decrease of only...